SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL

SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Foul Called on Referee

Published: April 11, 1991

Don't get the idea that Rod Thorn, the National Basketball Association's vice president for operations, has it in only for players. Just ask Steve Javie, the referee who threw Washington Bullets forward Pervis Ellison out of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers last Thursday.

The way Thorn viewed the game tape, all Ellison did was mildly protest a technical foul Javie ran halfway across the court to impose after Ellison had tossed the ball to another official after being called for a foul. In the brouhaha that followed Ellison's ejection, Javie imposed three more technical fouls and ejected Ellison's teammate Darrel Walker and their coach, Wes Unseld.

After reviewing the incident following a complaint from Abe Pollin, the Bullets' owner, Thorn ruled yesterday that Javie had overreacted in ejecting Ellison and would be disciplined. The nature of the discplinary action was not disclosed. (AP)